Evan Christopher

The untimely death of Kenny Davern last month has left a big void in the mainstream jazz clarinet roster, and Evan Christopher is one obvious candidate to fill that gap. He was born and raised in California, but has carved out a growing reputation as a leading exponent of classic New Orleans jazz. His love affair with the style grew out of hearing Artie Shaw and Johnny Dodds on his father’s records, but he immersed himself in the city’s musical traditions after moving there in 1994. His own style merges New Orleans and mainstream swing with hints of a more contemporary feel in highly effective fashion.